Hunting was once a traditional pasti for the nobility. For centuries, this ga had continued to attract new elites from various countries, one after another, as they experienced the thrill of life-and-death battles against ferocious beasts.
Adrian Desmond was one such enthusiast who had traveled to the forests of Soilliers and the grasslands of Goldland to hunt. This room was filled with his "trophies."
Lions, rhinoceroses, leopards, bears, and goshawks with wingspans of over three ters. These taxidermy specins looked incredibly lifelike.
"Dylan, over here."
Curly grabbed Dylan’s hand and led him to a giant, standing black bear with outstretched claws. The enormous bear, over three ters tall, resembled a small hill.
"We’ll hide in the car; they won’t find us there."
She instructed Dylan to crawl into the bear’s belly.
"Brother, you should find a place to hide too."
"You don’t need to worry about ; just make sure you’re well-hidden."
Connie looked tenderly at Curly. He enjoyed playing with her and didn’t think that playing house or hide-and-seek was childish at all.
He found happiness when playing with Curly. Curly liked to laugh, and her laughter was infectious, which made him feel joyful as well.
Curly also crawled into the bear’s belly.
She was wearing a red puffy skirt, and as she climbed in, it rode up, exposing her white Mickey Mouse underwear. Connie accidentally saw this and blushed.
The bear was so big that there was plenty of room inside for the two of them.
Curly took out a small flashlight and turned it on. The light illuminated the inside of the bear’s belly, making it look like a tent. Excited, she asked,
"Dylan, does this feel like camping to you?"
"Camping?"
"Yeah, like when we go out into the wilderness and don’t co ho at night—we stay in a tent. Whenever my family goes camping, my dad is so naughty. My mom is terrified of ghosts, so Dad holds her tightly and tells her ghost stories. Dylan, are you afraid of ghost stories?"
"I’ve never heard a ghost story before."
Curly looked at him in surprise. "How can you have never heard a ghost story before? What kind of books do you read then?"
"I’m currently reading history books and books about economics."
"...Um, do you know many characters? That sounds very profound," she thought. She only liked to read picture books at the mont.
"Yes, I can write all the Abyanabad characters, and I know a little Chinese. Chinese characters are difficult to write. My mom teaches Chinese. Did you know my mother is from the Orienta Diaspora?"
"Of course, I know that. My father is also from the Orienta Diaspora."
Connie said, "Shh... Don’t talk anymore. Soone’s coming."
Curly imdiately closed her mouth and even turned off the flashlight. Sitting inside the bear’s belly, Dylan could sll the faint, fruity scent coming from the little girl beside him. So this is hide-and-seek? It was his first ti playing. The Imperial Palace is so vast. Next ti, I could take Curly to play there, and no one would find us.
Footsteps approached. Dylan also held his breath, tensing up. The sensation was both exciting and joyful.
"Curly, I can sll you. Where are you hiding? Co out."
"Daddy?"
"So, you’re in the bear’s belly." Adrian Desmond walked over, crouched down, and poked at the bear’s stomach. "I’ve found you. Co out."
"Daddy, has the Prince of Abyanabad left?" Curly’s voice was muffled by the bear’s thick fur.
"He’s gone."
After searching for a long ti and not finding him, Kiya, who was in a hurry, left angrily. Adrian, who had known Kiya for many years, had never seen him lose his temper like this before.
So much for royal dignity, composure, and never showing one’s emotions, Adrian thought with schadenfreude. That’s because the problem hasn’t landed on his own shoulders.
Who wouldn’t be anxious if their wife ran away?
Adrian didn’t sympathize with Kiya at all.
Curly’s head suddenly popped out of the bear’s belly, gasping for breath. "I was about to suffocate."
"Co out quickly, then."
Adrian lifted her out of the bear’s belly, and Dylan followed suit, crawling out. The nephew was like his uncle. Dylan bore a resemblance to Adrian, but Dylan was more of a gentle, young master type, unlike Adrian, who was cold and carried an intimidating aura.
"Uncle, good evening," Dylan greeted Adrian respectfully.
Adrian frowned slightly, looking at him, and said, "Your father was furious because he couldn’t find you. You’re usually so well-behaved. Why did you go against your father’s wishes this ti?"
As Dylan erged and sat in front of Adrian, his small body was straight and rigid, unlike Curly, who seed boneless and soft as she leaned against Adrian’s chest.
"...Uncle, I miss my mom. I want to be with my mom."
Curly interrupted, "Daddy, Dylan is so pitiful. He can only see his mom once a month, and even then, it’s only for an hour. Daddy, can Dylan co live with us?"
"It’s late; ti for bed," Adrian said. He wasn’t Dylan’s father, so he couldn’t make such decisions for him.
"..."
"Dylan, go find your mom."
"Yes, Uncle," Dylan replied stiffly.
Watching the boy, who was being taught to act like a little old man, Adrian sighed. Children should be more lively, shouldn’t they? Although Curly can be a handful at tis and gives a headache.
After Dylan left, Curly refused to leave. She pointed at an Arctic fox specin and asked Adrian, "Daddy, when are you going hunting?"
"You want to go hunting? No way! It’s too dangerous. Your mother would never allow it!"
Adrian knew Sienna far too well. She raised their child ticulously and would never allow Curly to go anywhere dangerous.
"Let’s go secretly."
This is a terrible idea, Adrian thought. If Sienna finds out, I’ll definitely be the one in trouble. "No way! If your mother finds out, I’ll have to sleep in the guest room again."
"Daddy, you’re so spineless. You’re scared of Mom," Curly frowned, looking scornful.
"That’s not fear; that’s love. I love your mom, so I’m ’afraid’ of your mom. n should accommodate won. Otherwise, if your mom gets angry and runs away, you’ll beco a child without a mother."
"If Mom runs away, you won’t find a stepmother, will you?"
Curly’s thoughts jumped, and Adrian wondered how they had gotten onto this topic. "If your mom runs away, shouldn’t we find her and bring her back?"
"Dylan’s mom ran away, and his dad wants to marry a stepmother."
"..."
"Daddy, n are so unreliable."
"That’s Dylan’s dad, not ," Adrian said.
Curly hugged her father’s neck. "Daddy, you must never marry another woman, not even if other won like you. Mom is very smart. If she hides, you’ll never find her."
"Yes, if your mother hides, it really wouldn’t be easy to find her."
It had taken him four years and a stroke of good fortune to find her.
Adrian silently resolved, No matter what happens in the future, I will never let her run away again.
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